Thursday, September 19, 2013

Thick-leaved Gladiola (Gladiolus crassifolius)

Family Iridaceae

Gladiolus crassifolius occurs widespread from East Africa southward through Zimbabwe and South Africa.

The species has two forms, a more robust and a slender one. The robust form can be sharp pink with dark vertical stripes on the two lower tepals at the base of the flower throat, which is creamy yellow inside. The slender form flowers earlier.

The differences are not sufficient to establish separate species or even variations according to current viewpoint among the decision makers on these matters.

Differences in habitat may favour the survival of particular forms, starting off sometimes with only minute variations in the survival challenges presented, to become gradually established as notable distinctions in the process of specification over thousands of years.

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I am a private tour guide in Kruger National Park. For more information contact me on natureswow at gmail dot com
I was a full-time tour guide to for almost 23 years and enjoyed every minute of it.
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Oh my gosh, that would take eons to answer. Let us just say that I have done more with my life than any 20 normal people. I am still learning and growing, so who knows what and who I will turn out to be. The bottom line is that I am just an ordinary person with a great thirst for knowledge and a passion for nature (especially bugs) which has no equal!!
Visiting scientists who come to South Africa often need an assistant and someone to show them the do’s and don’ts of the bush and I do these assignments too.
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